Iron ore shipments on Seaway up about 44 percent from 2016

More than 6.6 million tons of iron ore have been shipped through the St. Lawrence Seaway as of Oct. 31, according to information from the Chamber of Marine Commerce.

That's an increase of nearly 44 percent from 2016.

Overall cargo shipments from the start of the shipping season on March 20 through Oct. 31 totaled 28.7 million metric tons — up 2.5 million metric tons from the same period last year and an increase of close to 10 percent.

"This year, cargo volumes have improved in everything from mined products like iron ore and salt to construction materials and general cargo,” said Bruce Burrows, president of the Chamber of Marine Commerce, in a news release. “The next couple of months are traditionally the busiest of the year with customers stockpiling raw materials for winter production. We’re optimistic 2017 will end on a positive note.”

Algoma Central Corporation, which is the largest Canadian domestic ship operator in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region, reported a nearly 20 percent increase in its domestic dry-bulk business revenues for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2017 compared to 2016.

St. Lawrence Seaway shipping totals are up from last year for general cargo, up 34 percent over 2016, salt, up 22 percent over 2016 and dry bulk, up nearly 12 percent — with many of these cargoes moving in and out of U.S. ports.